Landmark Cinemas renovates and introduces IMAX amidst rise in streamin
The long standing entertainment centre is investing several millions of dollars into renovations including new IMAX and Laser Ultra auditoriums, heated recliner seating and upgraded sound systems. (Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM)
Woodgrove Centre’s Landmark cinema has teamed up with IMAX to try to bring movielovers back to the big screen.
Movie going habits have changed in recent years, with audiences attending the theatres less than before the pandemic and choosing streaming services over cinemas for their movie watching.
That’s an issue that Nanaimo’s Landmark Cinema has taken to heart at its nearly 30 year old location, also known as the Avalon. The long standing entertainment centre is investing several millions of dollars into renovations including new IMAX and Laser Ultra auditoriums, heated recliner seating and upgraded sound systems.
CHLY dropped by Landmark's reveal and spoke with Ryan Dion, the Vice President of Operations at Landmark Cinemas as he spoke on why Nanaimo was chosen for the IMAX upgrade.
Dion (pictured) believes 2026 has been a particularly strong year for theatrical releases, with both blockbuster films and smaller productions attracting different audiences. (Luis Zablah / CHLY 101.7FM)
“It's an important market for us, and it's not a market that we had any intention of not being involved in, and so in order to be involved in the market we needed to upgrade the experience, and so Nanaimo will deserve to have the true Landmark experience, and so we have been planning it for a while now, and we're able to execute on it this year” “We're super excited, but Nanaimo is a great market, it's a really good movie going market.”
Dion explained Landmark decided it was time to modernise the location, investing several millions of dollars into the changes.
According to a report by Telefilm Canada and the Movie Theatre Association of Canada, Canadians purchased an average of 1.6 movie tickets in 2024, which is down 46 per cent from 2019, when the average Canadian just purchased three tickets per year. The report also found the theatre experience is still important for audiences, listing seating, theatre quality and ticket price among the top factors influencing where Canadians watch films. Additionally noted was that luxury large format screens and reclining seats are increasingly popular for Canadians.
Landmark’s upgrades also include the addition of premier seating that include recliners, adjustable headrests, tables, storage and heated seats. Dion adds the recliner updates are now a standard in every auditorium at the Avalon.
Dion spoke about the updated atmosphere.
“Well, it's just elevating the experience, and so you can't, you can't get this experience at home. Sure, you can have a La-Z-Boy and maybe a 70 inch TV, but you can't have a 50 foot screen, and you can't have Dolby Atmos sound,” said Dion. “You can't have the collective experience of 100 other people laughing at what's happening on the screen, or you know, horror is a big genre right now, it's like being scared collectively with everybody, you just can't recreate that at home.”
He believes 2026 has been a particularly strong year for theatrical releases, with both blockbuster films and smaller productions attracting different audiences. He cites Project Hail Mary, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey, Toy Story 5, Obsession, Backrooms, Digital Circus and Iron Lung as a few examples.
Dion says the changes mean the Landmark is practically a new theatre.
Mark Welton (Pictured), is president of IMAX Global Theatres. He says IMAX is designed to create an experience that goes beyond just watching a movie. (Luis Zablah / CHLY 101.7FM)
“All the speakers are brand new, JBL speakers, all of the projection is brand new.” “For all intents and purposes, this is a new build location, it was in an existing theatre, but everything that we brought is brand new to the auditorium experience.”
For Dion, the project is also personal. Having started his career in Nanaimo’s movie theatre industry decades ago as an usher ripping tickets, he says returning as a Landmark Vice President to oversee renovations has been a full circle moment. Instead of competing directly with streaming, many theatres have switched to premium experiences with formats like IMAX, Dolby Cinema and Laser Ultra.
Mark Welton, is president of IMAX Global Theatres. He says IMAX is designed to create an experience that goes beyond just watching a movie.
“First of all, IMAX is the IMAX experience, is not just the projector, not just the sound, not just the screen, it's really come together a lot of different components,” said Welton. “So, when you bring all those components together, it's called the IMAX experience, which gives you the most immersive movie going experience in the world.”
Welton adds each IMAX auditorium is custom designed with curved screens floor to ceiling and wall to wall. He says the IMAX experience leads to filmmaker partnerships, listing Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve and Ryan Coogler.
Welton explains why Nanaimo is the right community for IMAX.
“When we looked at a market where people like to go to the theatres and are willing to enjoy that premium experience, and when you put all that together with what they did with the renovation of this complex, it made real sense to be IMAX to be part of it.”
Beyond the technology inside the auditoriums, Welton says IMAX focuses on maintaining a consistent experience for audiences around the world.
He explains how IMAX monitors its theatres through a global network, allowing the company to identify and address technical issues no matter the location.
“If a speaker goes out in this theatre on a Wednesday night, we can see in Toronto, hey, that speaker's out. We go on the phone, usually can fix it by software, etc. So, the speaker is ready for the movie.”
CHLY also spoke with Glen Grunau, President of the Nanaimo International Film Screening Society (NIFSS) who welcomed the upgrades and said they reflect a commitment to improving the local cinema scene.
“Totally positive. I really hope our local cinemas are successful, and audiences show up in the numbers that allow them to do well and to be successful,” said Grunau. “Anything that can be done to improve the viewing experience, I support wholeheartedly. And I think a new seating arrangement and updated video and sound capabilities are definitely a good step.”
He says the society does not see itself as a competitor with Landmark, but as a partner as independent organizations like NIFSS and commercials serve different audiences, only strengthening Nanaimo’s film culture. He adds that supporting local cinemas benefits movie lovers across the community and asks audiences to take a chance on independent films.
Sinjin Dixon-Warren, is the Vice President of NIFSS. He speaks on the importance of the renovations.
“Before the Landmark theatre was a little bit run down. You know, it hadn't been renovated for many years, and so it's just really nice to see the owners investing in bringing high quality cinema experience in Nanaimo.”
Dixon-Warren says improvements such as IMAX, upgraded seating and enhanced sound make going to the movies feel like a special occasion, especially now as people attend the theatres less. He believes those investments give the community better access to a premium cinema experience without having to travel outside of Nanaimo.
Both Grunau and Dixon-Warren say the upgrades represent more than just new technology, but an investment in Nanaimo’s moviegoing culture. It offers residents more opportunities to experience films together.
Renovations are complete at Landmark Cinemas, with both IMAX and Laser Ultra auditoriums now open for the enjoyment by movie-goers.
Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.
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